Jon Lester's 5 best moments with the Boston Red Sox

Jon Lester's 5 best moments with the Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox traded starting pitcher Jon Lester to the Oakland A’s before Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline, ending — for now — a tenure marked incredible accomplishments. Though Lester has said he’d be open to returning to Boston in free agency after the season, he will spend at least the rest of the 2014 season apart from the only organization he has ever pitched for professionally.

To celebrate the lefty’s nine seasons in Boston, here are Jon Lester’s 5 best moments with the Red Sox:

1. Beating cancer

(Ron Schwane/AP Photo)

An easy choice for the top of this list. Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma in August of his rookie season in 2006. By December of that year, scans showed Lester’s cancer was in remission, and he returned to the big-league Red Sox in June of 2007. While rehabbing for the Sox’ Class A club in Greenville, South Carolina, Lester met Farrah Johnson. They got married less than two years later.

2. Winning the 2007 World Series

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

Lester’s capped his comeback from cancer by pitching 5 2/3 innings and earning the win in the decisive Game 4 of the Red Sox’ 2007 World Series win over the Colorado Rockies.

3. Two wins in the 2013 World Series

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

Lester and the Red Sox returned to the playoffs in 2008 and 2009, but did not reach the World Series again until last season. In the 2013 postseason, Lester went 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA over 34 2/3 innings in five starts. He won both of his World Series starts against the Cardinals, striking out 15 and walking only one while posting a 0.59 ERA in 15 1/3 innings.

The left-hander overcame cancer to help Boston win World Series in 2007 and 2013.

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